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Letter: RWHS forgot to 'never forget'

By Bryce Repsfrom Red Wing on Sep 18, 2013 at 2:59 p.m.

It was only my second week of kindergarten. I was still getting used to this entirely new concept called school, along with my fellow classmates. Even though we had only been to school a few times, and were still getting used to the regular routine, we could tell something was wrong, terribly wrong, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Ever since that horrible day, our school administrators have done a wonderful job remembering and respecting those lost and those who showed true bravery. Many speeches, reminders and even simple moments of silence came to be expected from school administrators.

This year, however, was different. This year there was no speech, the flags flew high, proud and forgetful. Some Red Wing High School teachers refrained from speaking about 9/11 with the thought that Principal Beth Borgen or Supt. Karsten Anderson would do what has come to be known as the usual.

The bells rang at 2:15 p.m., students went home, and Sept. 12 came.

I and one other student approached Dr. Borgen, wondering why nothing was said. She was in such a hurry that her only answer was it will be done next year and that many kids in the school just simply don't remember or do not care about 9/11.

Within half an hour, I had a petition started, stating that we do in fact care, and we expect a more appropriate and patriotic response in the future. After only a few hours of hastily running around the school, I had just under 400 signatures, one-third of the RWHS student body.

I turned in the petition on Friday afternoon to Supt. Anderson and Dr. Borgen. I have yet to receive a response from the administration.

As stated in the petition: "On behalf of the Red Wing High School Student Body, we will never forget 9/11."